'Support India’s Right To Self-Defence': US Tells Ajit Doval After Pulwama Attack

The White House has also asked Pakistan to "immediately end" its "support" to all terror groups.

Newsroom

Hindustan Times via Getty Images

US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Friday that the United States supports India’s right to self-defence after the two discussed the Pulwama attack, which has claimed the lives of at least 40 CRPF soldiers.

Bolton telephoned Doval on Friday morning to express his condolences and offered the US’ full support to India in confronting terrorism.

“I told Ajit Doval today that we support India’s right to self-defence. I have spoken to him twice, including this morning... and expressed US’ condolences over the terrorist attack,” Bolton told PTI.

Related...

In a stern message to Pakistan, the White House has also asked Islamabad to “immediately end” its “support” to all terror groups and not to provide “safe haven” to them, as the US condemned the Pulwama terror attack.

Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the terror attack.

“The United States calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had said in statement on Thursday.